At the signing, Obama compared the farm bill to a Swiss army knife because “it multitasks. It creates more good jobs & gives more Americans a shot at opportunity"

“It doesn’t include everything I’d like, but it’s a good sign that Democrats and Republicans of Congress were able to come together […] to get stuff done,” he said.

Obama made similar remarks earlier this week.

“As with any compromise, the Farm Bill isn’t perfect – but on the whole, it will make a positive difference not only for the rural economies that grow America’s food, but for our nation,” he said in a statement.

Obama is also working through the White House Rural Council to lead a new “made in Rural America” export and investment initiative. Click here to learn more.

Several groups have come forward to thank Obama for signing the farm bill, including the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and Dairy Farmers of America (DFA):

“This new five-year farm bill means certainty and stability for farmers. It means food on the table for hungry families. And it means taxpayers will save money,” NCGA President Martin Barbre said in a news release. “We thank President Obama for signing this important legislation and we stand ready to work with the Administration and communicate the value of this new law for our growers and those they help feed and fuel. Because of its very topic – food and the farms that provide it – this is one of the most important pieces of legislation Congress has passed in some time.”

"After five years of working toward a Farm Bill, we are thankful to have a new bill, which replaces outdated dairy programs with an important risk management tool that will help the nation’s dairy farm families maintain financial stability, said DFA Senior Vice President John Wilson. “We would like to thank our members, supporters in Congress and National Milk Producers Federation for their tireless pursuit of new dairy policy and a completed bill.

Politico reports according to Mary Kay Thatcher, senior director of congressional relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation, the first item on the USDA's to-do list should be putting in place a disaster assistance program for ranchers.

Thatcher also warned the USDA needs to be mindful that American farmers will be going back into the fields soon and the government will have to act fast to establish the new crop insurance and subsidy programs that were the hallmark achievement for lawmakers in the new farm bill.